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sams_fireside's reviews
269 reviews
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore
OMG this was so cute and so gorgeous and all the things that I'd love a man to do for me - I've been married for 23 years, so that isn't going to happen now! But never mind, it's so sweet, I'll just have to be content living through Hazel and throwing myself into the bookish treasure hunt with her.
I'm not sure about the defacing of books, but I'll forgive it for the sake of the gorgeous story and the gorgeous Noah and the beautiful romance that is inevitable as Hazel and Noah hook-up for the summer, but is it only for the summer...?
I liked The Pumpkin Spice Café, but I adored The Cinnamon Bun Book Store. I've read The Christmas Tree Farm too, and I'll post my review for that one soon!
Thank you to my Laurie Gilmore friends for including me in the chat and introducing me to her books.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I'm so pleased I discovered the Dream Harbor series - if you haven't read it - make this the year you do!
OMG this was so cute and so gorgeous and all the things that I'd love a man to do for me - I've been married for 23 years, so that isn't going to happen now! But never mind, it's so sweet, I'll just have to be content living through Hazel and throwing myself into the bookish treasure hunt with her.
I'm not sure about the defacing of books, but I'll forgive it for the sake of the gorgeous story and the gorgeous Noah and the beautiful romance that is inevitable as Hazel and Noah hook-up for the summer, but is it only for the summer...?
I liked The Pumpkin Spice Café, but I adored The Cinnamon Bun Book Store. I've read The Christmas Tree Farm too, and I'll post my review for that one soon!
Thank you to my Laurie Gilmore friends for including me in the chat and introducing me to her books.
Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage by Della Galton
Mr Spock the parrot is back! I first remember him from one of Della's previous books, and he's still as naughty and hilarious as he was then, but now he's moved into the rescue centre and there are lots of people available to teach him new words!
Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage is the second in the series about Jade's rescue centre and all the animals that she loves, cares for and rehomes. It's full of cuteness, with puppies, foxes, wedding plans and kids and easily a book that you could devour on a rainy afternoon while you're waiting for the sun to make an appearance (I'm still waiting)!
This can be easily read as a standalone book, but I'd recommend reading the first in the series to begin with, just because it's another great read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A rescue centre, jam-packed with animals - what's not to love?!
Mr Spock the parrot is back! I first remember him from one of Della's previous books, and he's still as naughty and hilarious as he was then, but now he's moved into the rescue centre and there are lots of people available to teach him new words!
Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage is the second in the series about Jade's rescue centre and all the animals that she loves, cares for and rehomes. It's full of cuteness, with puppies, foxes, wedding plans and kids and easily a book that you could devour on a rainy afternoon while you're waiting for the sun to make an appearance (I'm still waiting)!
This can be easily read as a standalone book, but I'd recommend reading the first in the series to begin with, just because it's another great read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
This is my first venture into Emily's stories, and it won't be my last. I especially loved listening to the audiobook and was drawn into the friends lives, hook, line and sinker. The story flits between when the friends all first met, the following years, and the present day. It was great to hear how they all got together, and of course what they're all doing now.
Emily writes about the importance of friendship, but also how people can and do drift apart as life continues for them all in different directions and the difficulties that can occur whilst trying to maintain the relationships. I liked Harriet, but I loved Wyn, he's insecure and constantly putting himself down, together they make a magical couple - if only they could see that.
I can't relate to meeting up with old friends once a year, because a) I'm not in touch with any friends from my dim and distant past and b) I can't think of anything worse haha! Sociable I'm not!
Thank you to #BookstaBritsBookClub for choosing Happy Place as February's book to read.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
How have I not read an Emily Henry book before?!
This is my first venture into Emily's stories, and it won't be my last. I especially loved listening to the audiobook and was drawn into the friends lives, hook, line and sinker. The story flits between when the friends all first met, the following years, and the present day. It was great to hear how they all got together, and of course what they're all doing now.
Emily writes about the importance of friendship, but also how people can and do drift apart as life continues for them all in different directions and the difficulties that can occur whilst trying to maintain the relationships. I liked Harriet, but I loved Wyn, he's insecure and constantly putting himself down, together they make a magical couple - if only they could see that.
I can't relate to meeting up with old friends once a year, because a) I'm not in touch with any friends from my dim and distant past and b) I can't think of anything worse haha! Sociable I'm not!
Thank you to #BookstaBritsBookClub for choosing Happy Place as February's book to read.
Love & Misdirection: A quirky romantic comedy by Mari Jane Law
Harmony and James are an incredible couple - well, not a couple at the beginning, but you'll soon work out where it's going! There wasn't a thing I didn't enjoy about this book. Tim was adorable, Saskia was hilarious, James was a sweetie and Harmony just didn't want to upset anyone. There was heartbreak and some difficult decisions to be made, but with the love and support from friends (and sometimes family), everything in Love & Misdirection slots nicely into place as the story progresses. Mari Jane Law intertwines several difficult subjects into the storyline, and it works well as we get to know all the new characters, as well as catch up with old friends. I laughed out loud at parts and my heart was breaking in others, but I loved it a lot.
Each of Mari Jane's books can be read as a standalone, but if you start at the beginning, you'll be introduced to the characters and their lives from the start, rather than then appearing randomly in the middle of the story.
Thank you to Mari Jane Law and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Love & Misdirection.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Loved it! I've enjoyed all Mari Jane's books, but this one has just become my favourite. If you like a good rom-com then you need to read this series!
Harmony and James are an incredible couple - well, not a couple at the beginning, but you'll soon work out where it's going! There wasn't a thing I didn't enjoy about this book. Tim was adorable, Saskia was hilarious, James was a sweetie and Harmony just didn't want to upset anyone. There was heartbreak and some difficult decisions to be made, but with the love and support from friends (and sometimes family), everything in Love & Misdirection slots nicely into place as the story progresses. Mari Jane Law intertwines several difficult subjects into the storyline, and it works well as we get to know all the new characters, as well as catch up with old friends. I laughed out loud at parts and my heart was breaking in others, but I loved it a lot.
Each of Mari Jane's books can be read as a standalone, but if you start at the beginning, you'll be introduced to the characters and their lives from the start, rather than then appearing randomly in the middle of the story.
Thank you to Mari Jane Law and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Love & Misdirection.
Love in the Cupboard by Mari Jane Law, Mari Jane Law
The storyline of a Catholic priest, (who doesn't want to be a Catholic priest any more), and his new life, as a sacramental photographer is hilarious, as he tries to wend his way through life 'on the outside'. His naivety, and the sheltered life he's led, away from the real world, make for an unconventional read. But who wouldn't want to meet the future love of their life in a cupboard?!!! It would be a funny story to tell the grandkids.
If you enjoy the miscommunication trope, then this is definitely a book for you. I think every relationship in here lacks communication at one point or another, and many a time I wanted to bang their heads together! However, as expected, everything has its 'happy ever after', and I dare you to try not to laugh out loud, at least a few times, as you're reading.
I found this to be a quirky and fun book in the next in Mari Jane Law's Love and Mishaps series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but you'll have more of an idea who the characters are if you read Love & Pollination first. I'm thinking that Miranda will be our protagonist in the next in the series??
Thank you to Mari Jane Law and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Love in the Cupboard.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Hope sleeps in a hearse - but this is a romantic comedy though, so don't be alarmed!
The storyline of a Catholic priest, (who doesn't want to be a Catholic priest any more), and his new life, as a sacramental photographer is hilarious, as he tries to wend his way through life 'on the outside'. His naivety, and the sheltered life he's led, away from the real world, make for an unconventional read. But who wouldn't want to meet the future love of their life in a cupboard?!!! It would be a funny story to tell the grandkids.
If you enjoy the miscommunication trope, then this is definitely a book for you. I think every relationship in here lacks communication at one point or another, and many a time I wanted to bang their heads together! However, as expected, everything has its 'happy ever after', and I dare you to try not to laugh out loud, at least a few times, as you're reading.
I found this to be a quirky and fun book in the next in Mari Jane Law's Love and Mishaps series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but you'll have more of an idea who the characters are if you read Love & Pollination first. I'm thinking that Miranda will be our protagonist in the next in the series??
Thank you to Mari Jane Law and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Love in the Cupboard.
The Cul-de-sac by Christopher Null
The majority of the characters have a backstory, some of them we find out about and others are just as much a mystery at the end, as well as at the beginning. I think this is what made the book so entertaining for me. All the characters are so very, very different, with one common denominator....they all pretty much keep themselves to themselves within their cul-de-sac...to a degree.
I hope to goodness that there is at least one more book to follow and that this cliffhanger ending isn't the last we see of these quirky neighbours and their hidden secrets.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review The Cul-de-Sac by Christopher Null.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm so pleased I agreed to read and review a copy of Christopher Null's latest book, The Cul-de-Sac. It only took me a couple of days to read and was a complete page-turner. The story was told from multiple points of view, I think it was primarily six, with the odd contribution from a few others. I know some people find these complicated, but I love them, once I get to know who people are and how they fit into the story.
The majority of the characters have a backstory, some of them we find out about and others are just as much a mystery at the end, as well as at the beginning. I think this is what made the book so entertaining for me. All the characters are so very, very different, with one common denominator....they all pretty much keep themselves to themselves within their cul-de-sac...to a degree.
I hope to goodness that there is at least one more book to follow and that this cliffhanger ending isn't the last we see of these quirky neighbours and their hidden secrets.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review The Cul-de-Sac by Christopher Null.
The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
This was such a beautifully written, nostalgic book and is very poignant when we think that this generation probably won't be writing letters and so there won't be any letters to discover. Texts and emails don't quite have the same mystery!
I loved Ellie's investigative streak as she sought to discover the history behind Jennifer's letters and her husband and lover and how Jennifer's story is similar to her own.
The Last Letter From Your Lover is a beautifully written book about missed chances and relationship consequences and I'm thankful it was one of our bookclub choices last year.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm a bit late writing my review for this one, as I listened in October 2024 as a bookclub choice for #BookstaBritsBookClub. I always love a time slip novel and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one. We flip between the 1960s and 2003, with Jennifer a young married woman in the 60s and Ellie, a similar age in 2003.
This was such a beautifully written, nostalgic book and is very poignant when we think that this generation probably won't be writing letters and so there won't be any letters to discover. Texts and emails don't quite have the same mystery!
I loved Ellie's investigative streak as she sought to discover the history behind Jennifer's letters and her husband and lover and how Jennifer's story is similar to her own.
The Last Letter From Your Lover is a beautifully written book about missed chances and relationship consequences and I'm thankful it was one of our bookclub choices last year.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
In November 2023 I listened to Iron Flame and in May 2024 I ordered Onyx Storm. As the publication of Onyx Storm approached I felt that re-listens were essential and as I never got around to reviewing the first two books, here are my thoughts now.
If you're a fan, then there isn't a lot I can say, so my review is for those who haven't ventured into Navarre and Basgiath War College but feel that they might like too.
Fourth Wing is the first in a five part series, primarily with Violet Sorrengail as our female main character. She's a badass twenty-year-old who is going down a path rather different to the one she envisaged for herself. Think a mismatch of Harry Potter and Hunger Games, but way, way better and with a huge dollop of s*x, oh and dragons, lots and lots of dragons. Some scary, some sassy, some with a hilarious and very dry sense of humour and some just plain evil. One thing is for sure, once they belong to a rider, they're never going to let them down. 'A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead'.
I loved Violet's feisty character and strong sense of friendship. Unless someone does something terrible to annoy her, Violet will be a friend for life. She's a little immature at times, but she is only twenty. There aren't many twenty-year-olds who have their head screwed on, especially when it comes to emotions and relationships.
Does this sound like your kind of book? If you enjoy fantasy, dragons, battles and comradeship then try it, see what you think and let me know.
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
In September 2023 I listened to Fourth Wing for the first time, mainly because I'm a sheep and I follow the flock, but so began my love of all things dragon, and I was well and truly hooked.
In November 2023 I listened to Iron Flame and in May 2024 I ordered Onyx Storm. As the publication of Onyx Storm approached I felt that re-listens were essential and as I never got around to reviewing the first two books, here are my thoughts now.
If you're a fan, then there isn't a lot I can say, so my review is for those who haven't ventured into Navarre and Basgiath War College but feel that they might like too.
Fourth Wing is the first in a five part series, primarily with Violet Sorrengail as our female main character. She's a badass twenty-year-old who is going down a path rather different to the one she envisaged for herself. Think a mismatch of Harry Potter and Hunger Games, but way, way better and with a huge dollop of s*x, oh and dragons, lots and lots of dragons. Some scary, some sassy, some with a hilarious and very dry sense of humour and some just plain evil. One thing is for sure, once they belong to a rider, they're never going to let them down. 'A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead'.
I loved Violet's feisty character and strong sense of friendship. Unless someone does something terrible to annoy her, Violet will be a friend for life. She's a little immature at times, but she is only twenty. There aren't many twenty-year-olds who have their head screwed on, especially when it comes to emotions and relationships.
Does this sound like your kind of book? If you enjoy fantasy, dragons, battles and comradeship then try it, see what you think and let me know.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Some people have said that the first part drags, but I didn't find that. For me, Rebecca Yarros just continued to build the world in which Violet lives, and each and every single chapter was written for a reason. Once again I thoroughly enjoyed Iron Flame, the second in the Empyrean series.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
After a second listen, in anticipation of the release of Onyx Storm, I have finally got around to writing my review for Iron Flame. Violet and her 'classmates' are like old friends now. I know who their dragons are, I know what signets they've manifested, and I know their strengths and weaknesses. 'It is therefore only natural, that the more powerful the dragon, the more powerful the signet its rider manifests'.
Some people have said that the first part drags, but I didn't find that. For me, Rebecca Yarros just continued to build the world in which Violet lives, and each and every single chapter was written for a reason. Once again I thoroughly enjoyed Iron Flame, the second in the Empyrean series.
Rebecca Soler, as the narrator, throws herself wholeheartedly into reading this. In particular the battle scenes are hectic, tense and buzzing, I'm exhausted at the end of each one and all I've done is listen!
In Iron Flame, we discover a world outside of Basgiath and what graduates of the war college are participating in during a normal day. Xaden isn't around on a daily basis this year for Violet, but she grows in confidence and skills as the year progresses.
If I've persuaded you to read Fourth Wing, then I hope you enjoyed it enough to read this one. Iron Flame, the next in the series.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Violet grows massively in Onyx Storm, she's maturing both emotionally and physically and rather than her being a bit whiny and stroppy, she is now centred and assured. She has her head screwed on and makes some really great decisions.
The dragons continue to be sassy and sarcastic and honestly, in my opinion, they make the books what they are. Tairn and Andarna are the ones that have me laughing out loud as I spit my coffee out! One of my favourite quotes from this book is this...
Violet....talking about carrying Xaden out of a battle... "Take us both"
I listened to the audiobook and Rebecca Soler in particular, was brilliant. She has some great character voices and made it all the more enjoyable for me. I am going to go back and read the actual books for each of the three, though and see if I get anything different from them, than I did the audiobook.
Theories after theories are coming in, as to what's going to happen next, and I'm sure there will be more as the months (and years) pass before we get the next book. Roll on 2027....!
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved Onyx Storm! There has already been such a lot written about it, and people have differing views, but for me, it was a great continuation of the Empyrean series. In my opinion, it's written differently to Fourth Wing or Iron Flame. There is a lot more world-building in this book. We learn more about the history of what is known as the Continent, as well as the isles and the people who inhabit them, and I was so invested in this and discovering lots of new things.
Violet grows massively in Onyx Storm, she's maturing both emotionally and physically and rather than her being a bit whiny and stroppy, she is now centred and assured. She has her head screwed on and makes some really great decisions.
The dragons continue to be sassy and sarcastic and honestly, in my opinion, they make the books what they are. Tairn and Andarna are the ones that have me laughing out loud as I spit my coffee out! One of my favourite quotes from this book is this...
Violet....talking about carrying Xaden out of a battle... "Take us both"
Tairn "I am not a horse"
I listened to the audiobook and Rebecca Soler in particular, was brilliant. She has some great character voices and made it all the more enjoyable for me. I am going to go back and read the actual books for each of the three, though and see if I get anything different from them, than I did the audiobook.
Theories after theories are coming in, as to what's going to happen next, and I'm sure there will be more as the months (and years) pass before we get the next book. Roll on 2027....!